City receives grant to build new sidewalks

The heavy traffic and lack of sidewalks near Templeton Elementary School had parents concerned last year, but thanks to a state grant, they may have less to worry about in the future. \nLast week, Bloomington received a $250,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation to build sidewalks near the school. City planners intend to build the sidewalk along the west side of Henderson Street between Hillside Drive and Allen Street, but it may be some time before the city gathers the remaining funds to begin construction. \n“The parents at Templeton came to the city with some concerns about the walking route and not being able to get to school safely,” said Joe Fish. Bloomington transportation planner. “They were the impetus and the city took it from there.”\nFish said a pedestrian island will also be placed in the middle of Henderson Street near the school. \nCity planners working with the Monroe County Safe Routes to School Task Force applied for a grant from the state, city engineer Adrian Reid said. \n“The application basically filled itself out,” Reid said. \n But even though the city has received the grant, it may be awhile before the sidewalks are actually built. \n“It’s a little bit uncertain at this point,” Fish said. “There are some issues that need to be worked through. It’s not as though, having received the award, we are automatically allowed to go out and spend the money.”\nThe city will need to raise additional funds in order to make the sidewalks a reality, Reid said. \n“This project is more expensive than just the grant alone,” Reid said. “We have to come up with or dedicate the additional amount.”\nThe next step in the process will involve city leaders sitting down with INDOT to discuss the terms of the construction, Reid said.\n“We still have to work with INDOT to show how money is being spent,” Reid said. “That takes time ... but we hope to get things underway next summer.”\nWhile the Monroe County Community School Corporation and Templeton parents were involved in the beginning of the effort, the city is now in charge of bringing the project to life with the grant, comptroller Tim Thrasher said.\nBut the new sidewalks would not have happened without the efforts of the community, Reid said.\n“It really shows what can come out of the public getting involved in the process,” he said. “This only came about from the urging of concerned parents. It’s nice to know we’re going to give the community something they really want ... It truly was a grassroots effort.”